p53 localizes to the centrosomes and spindles of mitotic cells in the embryonic chick epiblast, human cell lines, and a human primary culture: An immunofluorescence study.

Immunofluorescent staining of mitotic centrosomes and spindles by anti-p53 antibodies was observed in the embryonic chick epiblast by epifluorescence microscopy and in three human cancer cell lines, an SV40-immortalized cell line, and a normal human fibroblast culture by confocal microscopy. In the chick epiblast, the centrosomes stained from early prophase through to the formation of the G1 nuclei and the spindle fibers stained from prophase through to telophase. In the human cells, the staining was observed from late prophase to telophase. The epiblast was stained by the anti-p53 antibodies DO-1, Ab-6, and Bp53-12. The human cells were also stained by these antibodies as well as by other anti-p53 antibodies. Preabsorption of DO-1 and Bp53-12 with purified tubulin did not diminish the immunostaining, showing that the antibodies were not reacting with tubulin in the mitotic centrosomes and spindles. The immunostaining in the chick epiblast was very clearly localized to the mitotic centrosomes and spindles, revealing a cytoplasmic location for p53 during mitosis and accounting for earlier reports of an association between p53, tubulin, and centrosomes. The localization of p53 to the spindle supports an involvement of p53 in spindle function. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.